Spring-controlled mechanism.



v P. WILLMANN.

SPRING CONTROLLI-1D MBGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.29, 1912. 1,068,290 Patented July 22, 1913.

' z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. WILLMANN.

SPRING GONTROLLED MEHANISIM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. zo, 1912.

1,068,290. Patented July 22, 1913.

2 SHEETS-'SHEET 2.

l n i 1 7 7 PAUL WILLMANN, 0F BERLIN, GERMANY.

SPRING-CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters atent.

Patented July ee, 1913,

Application led August 29, 1912. Serial No. 717,78'3.

T lo all whom it may concern:

y Be it known that I PAUL IVILLMANN, a citizen of the German Empire, andresiding at Berlin, Germany, have inventedcertain new and usefulImprovements in Spring- Controlled Mechanisms, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to a regulating device for spring-controlledmechanism which prevents sudden changes in tension Wen contracting andreleasing the spring, s ch as are produced by the turns of 'the spring'umping out of the plane of the spring and y the individual turnsbeingcontracted at various speeds. The regulating device comprises afixed and a movable guide for the spring, and a corresponding, rotatablebearing of the outer end of the spring.

' The regulating device is ot' special importance for clock-likeapparatus having pointer mechanism for indicating the results ofcontinuous measurements, in which there- `ore the lpointer connectedwith the springcontrolled mechanism must constantly rotate exactlyaccording tothe continuous measurement. Such apparat-us include, forexample, clock-like indicating devices for instruments for measuringlengths, depths and the like. The invention Vis hereinafter explainedwith reference to such an instrument, Owing to the regulating devicewhich assures the spring-being constantly tensioned evenly it ispossible to obtainv an eXactindication of the measurements even when thepointer rotates several times. The dial of the indicating devicedescribed hereinafter is therefore provided with several circular scalesof various colors, and instead of'one pointer I provide several pointersof various lengths, namely a separate pointer for each scale, whichpointers indicate in succession the result of the4 continuousmeasurement. This is effected either by the pointer which rotates forthe time being driving the following pointer after one revolution, or by4one of the pointers being stopped in succession after each revolution.Owing t-o the peculiar nature of the pointers the f may be designateddrag-pointers.

ne illustrative embodiment of my invention is represented by way ofexample 1n the accompanying drawing, wherein lFigui-'e1 isa frontelevation of an indicating devicei-and its regulating device for thespring, thecoverhaving been partly removed and the dial not being shown,and

F ig. 2 is a vertical section through the device.V Fig. 3 is a sectionalview showing the pointer'in front elevation; Fig. 4 is a sectional viewtaken in a plane at right angles to Fig.- 3 and with the pointer shownin side elevation.

Referring to the drawing, the indicating .device is mounted in a casing1 which has a tubular inlet 2 for guiding the cord -for transmitting themeasurement, and attachment lugs 3, 3. Journaled in the center of therear Wall of the casing is a pivot 4, on which is mounted a groovedpulley 5, over which runs the cord S moved by the measuring mechanism,not shown, according to the continuous measurement. Rigidly connectedwith the uiheel 5 is a pointer 6 which indicates the movement of theWheel on a dial not slioivn. The movement of the grooved Wheel andpointer 6 is regulated by a spiral spring 7 mounted free to move betweenthegrooved wheel and the rear wall of the casing, the inner end of thisspring being attached to t-he grooved wheel, and the outer end insuitable manner to the rear wall of the casing. This spring7 is the mainspring of the indicating device. The regulating device according to myinvention is arranged at this spring. It comprises a flat sector 8mounted to rock about a pivot 9 fixed on the rear vwall of the casing.The sector has a. slot 10, by which it is guided by the pivot 4,-and atits outer end a guide 11, in the form of two pins, an eyelet or thelike, through which one turn of the spring 7 runs. This sector 8constitutes the movable guide of the spring. v

In order to prevent the free turns of the spring jumping out of theplane of the spring I mount on the rear wall of the casing a forkedcover 12 which extends between spring 7 and the wheel 5, the pivot 4'passing through the space 13 between its prongs. Lastly, in order that.the outer last turn of the spring 7 can adapt itself to the change ofposition when the spring contracts and opens out, its end is clamped ina bearing 14 rotatable on the rear wall of the casing.

As the measurement continues the ooved wheel 5 rotates two or more revoutions.

Accordingly I provide the dial with severalcircular scales, on which themeasurement is indicated -in succession byv one, two, three yandmorepointers in addition to the Vpointer 6. The rings of the scale are shown1n the pivot 4 and in its zero position registers with the pointer'. Theaxle-bush 15 ot` the pointer 15 is connected with the'inner end of anauxiliary spring 16 whose outerA end is attached to the wheel 5. Thepointer 15 bears against a stop 17 of the casing in its zero positionand in this position holds the pointer 6y fast against the action of thespring 7 by means of a bend 18.

The entire indicating ydevice is covered with a glass cover comprising aring 19 screwed to the casing. Packing 20. forms an air-tight anddust-tight joint between .the rin `and the casing.

The indicating device could also -be constructedl by attaching theinnerend of the auxiliary spring 16 for the second pointer 15 to thepointer, and its. outer end to the casing. lfVhen the grooved wheel 5begins to -rotate vthe pointer 15 will then at rst remain stationary; A@n the pointer 6, which is located a little in front of the pointer 15in the clockwise direction in the zero position, is apin which after onerevolution of the pointer 6 coacts with the pointer 15 and drives thesame, when the pointer15 registers with the pointer 6. v 'llhree or morepointers can be combined in like manner in the two constructions.

Each pointer actually makes but one sole revolution, but the pointersare all moving separately. rlhe second one starts only when the firstone has made one revolution, and vthe third one only after the secondone has performed one' revolution and so on. rllhe scale is arranged inrings, so that each pointer is making its indication on one of thesescales. The indication device as shown in the drawing, can, ot course,only work with two pointers, 6 and 15. rl`he pointer .6 is in fixedconnection with the grooved wheel 5. The pointer is free to rotate aboutthe pivot 4. The axle bush 15 of the pointer 15 is connected with theinner end ot an auxiliary spring 16, whose outer end is attached to thewheel 5. The pointer 15 bears against a stop l17 ofthe casing and thespring 161 pushes the pointer 15 always to the left, seen from thespectator. rll`he stop 17 limits this rotation and on the other side,the pointer 15 stopsthe pointer 6, around which itxgrips with the brokenpart at its inner end. When the grooved wheel 5 is turned, the pointer 6moves first, while the pointer l15, which is loosely mounted on thepivot 4 of the'wheel 5, is retained through the spring 16. 1t is onlyafter the pointer 6 has made a rotation that it comes into gearing withthe pointer 15 at the rear bent part `tations forward an incasso of thesame, thus carrying it away. rlFhen pointer 15 can perform a rotation,namely, up to stop 17. When returning, the pointer 15 moves backwardlyuntil the stop-7 stops it, whereas pointer 6 makes two rotations untilit is stopped by pointer 15.

Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing show three pointers, the lowel` one ofwhich isfiXed to the wheel 5, the two others being loosely mounted onthe aXle 4. The upper pointer bears against the stop 7 and is connectedto the casing by spring 16. The spring 16 draws the upper pointer .tothe left hand side. in the direction `of the arrow and when the wheel 5is turned, it carries the low-est pointer with it. At the aXle bush ofthe same is provided a' projecting pivot cz, which is placed to theright of a downwardly projecting pivot 'b at the axle bush of themedium4 pointer. After one rotation the pivot a of the lowest pointer(see Fig. 4) gears with the pivot b and carries the second pointer away.@n this second ancl'on the third pointer are pivots a and Z2, whichafter a rotation of the medium pointer, and after the lower one hasalready made two rotations, carry off the uppermost pointer. rlheuppermost pointer makes now also a rotation, and the same might be thecase with a fourth pointer, should such be employed. lt the wheel 5 isreleased, the spring 16 will at once turn the uppermost pointerbackward. lt is, however, at this moment coupled with both of the otherpointers, and

therefore carries both of them od. After one rotation the uppermostpointer stops, andherea'ter the second, or the lowermost, turnsonwardly, and its pivot a again couples after' one rotation with thepivot o of .the

second'pointer on the other side, insuch manner, that the second pointeris also carrled od once for a rotation. lf the lower-l most` pointer hasmade three rotations, then all three pointers have reassumed theiroriginal andl normal position. 'llhus it is proved, that the lowermostointer, makes three robackward, the second makes two rotations and thethird pointer makes one, and that the pointers are carrying one anotheroff by guided movement.

When the indicating device is operated by the measuring mechanism byrotating the wheel 5 through the medium of the cord S, the regulatingdevice of the spring acts in such manner that the sector 8, which. isdriven by the spring 7 when the latter is tensioned.- regulates theradial distance apart 'of the contracting turns of the spring. The fork12 prevents the turns of the. free spring jumping outof place, and thebearing 14 of the outer end of the spring rotates corresponding to thechange of position of the spring. S0 that no bending strains lcan occur.

During'the Erst revolution of the'grooved Wheel the pointers 6 and 15move conjointly in the illustrative embodiment, the pointer 6 beingdriven by the Wheel itself and the pointer l5 by the tension of thespring 16.

After one revolution the pointer 15, which' The pointers are returnedinto the ro position in both constructions under the action of thesprings 7 and 16 in a manner which will be readily understood.

I claim i 1. In spring-controlled mechanism, the combination With aspiral spring, of a fixed guide parallel to the plane of the spring, amovable guide for guiding the outer portion of the spring, and a xedlymounted, rotatable bearing attached to the outer end of the spring.

2. In spring-controlled indicating mechanism, the combination With acasing, an axle journaled therein, and a spiral spring having its innerend attached to the axle, of a forked guide fixed on the casing parallelto the plane of the spring at one side thereof and embracing the axlewith clearance, a

sector-shaped member mounted to rock in the casing and guided bythe axleAat the other side of the spring, said member having a guide for guidingthe outside turn of the spring, and a rotatable bearing ixedly mounted'in the casing and attached to the outer lend of the spring.

3. In indicating mechanism of the character described, the combinationWith a casing, an axle journaled therein, a Wheel fast on the'axle, aspiral spring having one end attached to the casing and the other endattached to the axle, and a pointer fast on the axle, of a drag-pointerfree to rotate about the axle, a second spiral spring having one endattached to the drag-pointer and its other end attached to the Wheel,and a stop ixed on the casing for arresting the dragpointer.

4. In indicating mechanism of the character described, the combinationwith a casing, an axle journaled therein, a Wheel fast on the axle, aspiral spring having one end attached to the casing and the other endattached to the axlef and a pointer fast on the axle, of a drag-pdinterfree to rotate-about the axle, a second spiral spring having one endattached to the drag-pointer and its other end attached to the casing,and a pin on the former pointer for coacting With and driving thedrag-pointer.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

PAUL WILLMANN.

Witnesses HENRY HASPER, ARTHUR SCHROEDER.

